Chapter 5

LILY

My first day in Raven Academy was all I could dream of all night. Was this academy going to be like high school? I had a rough time adjusting in high school, and I don’t think I would fit perfectly in an academy for wolves.

“Let’s get things straight,” Amber said, focused on the road. My eyes were outside the window. Raven Pack was still a mystery to me. How was a big city like this hidden from humans?

“Lily? Can you hear me?” she called out. I turned to her, her eyes watching me through the front mirror.

“Yes, I can.”

“Good. First things first… stay hidden. Don’t cause chaos. Don’t try to act important or gain popularity. You have a big secret, and the easiest way to get your secret leaked is when you mess with the wrong crowd or a social bee.”

I nodded.

“Trust me, I’d rather stay hidden.”

“Next, people will surely want to know about your background because you are my apprentice. Don’t say much. Just say you come from a line of stray wolves with no territory, and your family wanted you to learn medicine. That’s why you decided to take apprenticeship from me.”

“At least that’s true. I actually want to learn medicine.”

Amber didn’t say anything, and I just coughed to ease the tension.

“I won’t blow our cover. I’ll stay hidden.”

The car stopped, and I looked outside. I was amazed by the building. It was ten times bigger and more beautiful than my old high school or the college I was applying for. I stood in awe, lost in admiration, and I had no idea Amber had already gone ahead.

I turned—and she was gone. I had no phone, so I couldn’t contact her. How could she just leave me here?

“It’s you!” I heard a voice behind me. It was the boy from before—Sebastian and the other guy. Matilda didn’t respond when I asked if they attended Raven High. I guess this was my answer.

“Aren’t you the girl from the woods? What are you doing here?” the other boy asked.

“It’s an academy, isn’t it? I’m new here.”

“You said you weren’t a wolf the last time I checked,” he added.

“Of course she’s a wolf. If she isn’t, would she be here?” Sebastian scoffed at his brother, then turned and smiled at me.

“I was only scared you would attack me—that’s why I lied,” I said. He didn’t respond. He just walked away. He had this look like he was irritated by my presence. Our eyes met before he left. His eyes were just like the ones I read about in novels—the ruthless alpha who hated everyone, who killed anyone who dared him, the one who never had a mate. His brother, on the other hand, was the total opposite. He had a calming and welcoming aura, smiling sheepishly at me.

“So you’ve met my brother before? Interesting…”

“It was a very awkward moment.”

“We didn’t get to introduce ourselves properly when we first met. My name is Sebastian. My father is the Alpha of this pack, so I’m like a prince—”

“We couldn’t introduce ourselves because you acted weird. Who grabs a girl they just met like that? That’s disgusting.” I frowned, still searching for Amber. Students rushed around, and she was nowhere in sight. I felt like a kid abandoned in a crowded place.

“So you weren’t moved by my charm?” he teased.

“Lily!” I heard my name behind me. I turned quickly. Amber was approaching with Matilda and a girl around my age.

“I was searching everywhere for you…” Amber glanced at Sebastian, and he gave a little wave.

“Sebastian, don’t you have a class?” Matilda asked.

He shrugged.

“Sebastian, can you excuse us?” Amber added. He stepped back and winked at me.

“See you around, Lilian…”

How on earth did he know my full name? Everyone just assumed it was Lily, like Lily the flower. Yet this boy, who I barely knew, got it right.

I watched him walk away, still in shock.

“Did he just call me Lilian?”

“Your name is Lilian?” Matilda laughed. I nodded.

“Did you know that?” she asked Amber. We both looked at Amber. She cleared her throat.

“This is Anastasia,” she said, introducing the girl behind her. She waved. I wasn’t fast enough to respond, so I just lifted my hand and dropped it.

“She will be your tour guide. The principal assigned her to you. And Matilda is your guardian—she teaches here.”

“Surprise,” Matilda said, waving. I smiled a little.

“Every Raver has a guardian, and she has been assigned to you. You can talk to her about anything and everything.”

“When my mom was mated, she told her guardian first before her parents. That’s how important a guardian is,” Anastasia added. I didn’t care much about that. A human finding a mate? Impossible. I just faked a gasp.

“Wow… really. Must be so cool.”

I could swear Amber smiled, but she immediately fixed her face.

“I’ll be off now. I have patients. Have a nice first day.”

Amber walked away. I wasn’t expecting a hug, but the way she left still felt strange.

“I’m going to leave you girls to catch up. Anastasia, please treat her well. She’s new.”

“Don’t worry, Matty. I’ll try my best,” Anastasia smiled. After a short hug, Matilda whispered to me:

“You’ll be fine.”

I hoped I would be.

“Hiiii Lilian!” Anastasia immediately linked her arm through mine. I tried to pull away, but she held on tight.

“You can call me Lily,” I said. She nodded.

“Noted. I see you’re close to Sebastian.”

“Close? Oh no. I just met him yesterday. He seems like a troublemaker.”

“Troublemaker, trickster, clown, spoiled brat… and most importantly, a playboy. Sebastian is a lot of things.”

From the little I had seen, it made sense.

“I see,” I said, following her toward the hall. She stopped and turned to me.

“He’s a Class A wolf. Very typical of him.”

“Class A? Is that like his grade? Is this like high school grading?”

She burst into laughter, leaning on a bench. I rolled my eyes, unsure what was so funny.

“Sorry. This isn’t high school. It’s more like what humans call college.”

“Oh… that explains why everyone looks so grown.” I had noticed there were no 14–16-year-olds. Everyone looked like an adult.

“So what’s a Class A?”

“Okay. Let me explain. Raven Academy has several types of students. The kids from Alpha bloodlines, noble families—Betas, Gammas, and Lycans. These are Class A wolves. They dominate here. Top of the hierarchy. Untouchable. People literally make way for them.”

“This is crazy,” I gasped, for real.

“Then there are Class B wolves— kids from the middle class. Elders, warriors, scouts, healers, seers, teachers. They are respected and cannot be mistreated”

Does that mean I was Class B? Only if Amber was openly my guardian. So what class was I?

“If you don’t fall under any of these categories… then you’re Class C. They come from low-class families, normal wolves, sometimes omegas. Wolves with a weak bloodline, orphan wolves, late shifters, wolves who don’t fit pack culture, wolves considered… ‘defective.’ Like a wolf with an injury, a wolf who can’t mind link, a wolf whose wolf side is quiet, a wolf with a faint scent…”

She continued, but I already knew.

“ You look terrified ….i am a Class C because i haven’t shifted yet and my parents are traders …” She added

“What happens to Class C wolves?” I asked, my voice unsteady.

“Oh… it’s best you don’t know.”

“I want to know. I am Class C.”